Nancy Reagan: The Role of a Lifetime

From Hollywood to the California governor's mansion to the White House, Ronald and Nancy Reagan were America's premier power couple. Mary Beth Durkin's PBS-aired documentary, hosted by Judy Woodruff, covers the former First Lady's public and behind-the-scenes personas. Archival photos and footage provide biographical background, covering Nancy's childhood, acting career, and initial encounter with Ronald Reagan, who was president of the Screen Actors Guild when she sought help from him to deal with a story linking her to radical political causes. Reagan was smitten, marking the start of an intense, decades-long love. The film skips quickly through Reagan's days as General Electric pitchman, his growing interest in conservative causes, and his electrifying 1964 speech supporting Barry Goldwater. Throughout Reagan's career, Nancy helped mold his image and further his agenda. While in the White House—despite criticism suggesting she was frivolous, elitist, and out of touch—she in effect acted as a “personnel director,” pushing some staffers out while bringing others into the president's inner circle. Other topics covered include Nancy's interest in astrology (which intensified after the 1981 assassination attempt), her anti-drug campaign, the state dinners that often mixed Hollywood style with politics, her role in the dark days of the Iran-Contra scandal, and her bravery facing the “long goodbye” of Reagan's battle with Alzheimer's. Interviews with White House insiders, son Ron Reagan, and Nancy herself round out the portrait. Recommended. Aud: H, C, P. (S. Rees)